Diaper



July 24, 1956 M. w. MICHAEL 2,755,804

DIAPER Filed June 26, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 6 DIAPER Marie W. Michael, Charlotte, N. (1., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Dave M. Pennington, Columbia, S. C., and S. Frank Jones, Charlotte, N. C.

Application June 26, 1953, Serial No. 304,293 Claims. (Cl. 128-284) This invention relates to diapers and more especially to that type of diaper which may be positioned about the body of the wearer without the use of pins, clamps, or the like, and which is especially adaptable for use with the structure disclosed in a prior Patent No. 2,523,- 079, issued jointly to Frances D. Walters and Marie Walter Michael.

It is an object of this invention to provide a diaper which may be readily and removably positioned about the body of the wearer and which is formed from an inexpensive, but strong and lasting fabric and which will withstand repeated washings and give long and effective service.

It is another object of this invention to provide a diaper cut and stitched to provide a pocket therein for the reception of additional absorbent material as needed, which additional absorbent material may be disposable, if desired, and readily removable from the diaper proper.

It is more specifically an object of this invention to provide a diaper formed from a rectangular piece of absorbent material adapted to be folded and stitched so as to provide a pocket in the center portion thereof, the opposite free ends of said diaper being adapted to be positioned between the body of the wearer and the tape disclosed in said prior Patent No. 2,523,079.

It is another object of this invention to provide a diaper of the type described which may be used by adults as well as infants or children. 7

It is another object of this invention to provide a diaper especially adaptable for use on infants and small children wherein at least one additional ply of absorbent material is positioned in the center portion of the diaper and securely stitched thereto, said diaper being so folded and stitched as to provide a pocket adjacent said multi ply section thereof for the reception of additional absorbent material, and which diaper may be used in conjunction with pinless diaper holders such as disclosed in said prior Patent No. 2,523,079.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an isometric view of one form of diaper showing additional absorbent material secured to the center portion thereof and showing the diaper prior to the same being folded and stitched;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the diaper showing the manner in which one side edge is folded over and stitched;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the diaper folded still further into the position in which it is adapted to be worn;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 in Figure 3; v

Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank of material from which a modified form of diaper is made and showing fold lines therein;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the modified diaper folded along the lines 41 and 42 shown in Figure 5 and showing 2,755,804 Patented July 24,

the manner in which the diaper is transversely stitched to form center pockets therein;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the modified into position for wearing;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a somewhat schematic illustration, with parts broken away, showing the first form of diaper somewhat shortened in proportion to its width for purposes of illustration and positioned within a structure made: according to said patent;

Figure 10 is a schematic illustration, with parts broken away, showing the modified form of diaper somewhat shortened in proportion to its width for purposes of illustration and positioned within a structure made according to said patent with a slight variation in structure.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there will be observed in Figures 1 through 4, a diaper particularly adaptable for use on infants and small children wherein a maximum amount of absorbency is provided with a minimum of material and which is also useful as an adults diaper or sanitary pad.

The diaper is formed from a rectangular blank of highly absorbent soft material. An additional piece of material 10 is secured to the blank in superposed relation thereto and extending transversely thereof. If desired, the additional piece of material 10 may be of the same dimensions as the rectangular blank from which the diaper is formed, but in the preferred form as shown in the drawings, the additional piece of material 10 is spaced from opposite end edges of the rectangular blank in order to concentrate the greater thickness at the place where protection is most needed and to render the diaper less bulky at opposite ends thereof. The additional material 10 is secured to the blank as by stitches 11 simultaneously with the forming of hems 12 in opposite edges of the blank.

Imaginary fold lines 13 and 14 extend longitudinally of the rectangular blank and the additional material 10 to divide the blank into sections or panels A, B, and C.

Opposite ends of the blank form hems 20 and 21 and the blank is then folded along the imaginary fold line 13 to bring panel C into superposed relation to panel B.

Additional stitches 11 are utilized to secure the hems together and to secure panel C to panel B adjacent opposite ends of the diaper. Panels C and B are preferably additionally secured to each other adjacent the additional material 10 as by lines of stitches 22 and 23. A plurality of pockets are thus formed between the panels B and C, the centermost pocket being defined by lines of stitches 22 and 23 and the fold line 13 and having its open end adjacent panel A. If desired, additional stuffing or pads of absorbent material P may be positioned within the centermost pocket thus formed to provide greater absorbency (Figure 4).

When it is desired to fold the diaper into wearing position, panel A is folded into superposed relation to panel C to effectively close the pockets formed between panels B and C. Panel A is not sttiched to panel B but merely overlaps the same and can be readily unfolded to facilitate the insertion or removal of additional material P, as desired.

diaper folded The diaper thus formed is adapted to be used in con-.

junction with a pair of trunks or panties 30, which may be of the type disclosed in prior Patent No. 2,523,079 (Figure 9). It will be observed that the panty 30 has a plurality of tapes 31 formed integral therewith adapted to support opposite ends of the diaper thus formed.

Modified form Referring now to Figures 5 through 8 and 10, there.

are folded inwardly to will be observed a modified form of diaper adapted especially for use by incontinent adults, but which may also be used for children or infants if desired.

The diaper is formed from a rectangular blank of highly absorbent material and has longitudinally extending imaginary foldlines 41 and 42 therein, dividing the blank into sections or panels X, Y, and Z. Panels X and Z are folded inwardly along fold lines 41 and 42 respectively so that the side edges of panels X and Z are superposed upon panel Y in relatively closely spaced parallel relation to each other (Figure 6). Immediately prior to panels X and Z being folded inwardly, the end edges of the blank are folded into hems as at 43, and said hems 43 are stitched as at 44 simultaneously with securing panels X and Z to panel Y adjacent opposite end edges thereof.

Sections X and Z are preferably additionally secured to panel Y by transversely extending rows of stitches 45', 46, 47 and 43, it being observed that said rows of stitches extend completely across the diaper as folded into the position shown in Figure '6, to form a plurality of pockets between panels X and Y and between panels Y and Z, the open ends of which are in proximity to each other. It will be observed that the lines of stitches 46 and 4'7 define edges of relatively elongated pockets into either one or both of which pads of additional absorbent 'material P may be positioned to provide greater absorbency, if desired (Figure 8).

When it is desired to fold the diaper into wearing position, panel X may be additionally folded into superposed relation to panel Z as shown in Figure 7 to effectively close the pockets to prevent spillage of any additional absorbent material which may have been placed therein. No further stitching is required upon the diaper being folded into the position shown in Figure 7 as the same is adapted to be used in conjunction with a diaper holder or panty 50 (Figure which may be substantially of the type disclosed in said'prior Patent No. 2,253,079, or any other suitable diaper or pad holder.

It is thus seen that there is provided an improved type of diaper which may be modified as described without departing from the spirit of the invention to provide greater or lesser layers of absorbent material as desired for use with infants or incontinent adults, and which diaper may be conveniently placed about the body and may be conveniently removed therefrom when desired by the simple expedient of pulling it from the panty in which it is positioned, and which diaper has means asso ciated therewith for accommodating additional absorbent material if desired.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim: 7

1. A diaper comprising a rectangular sheet of absorbent fabric divided into a plurality of panels, at least one of said panels being folded into overlapping relation to the next adjacent panel and being secured thereto adjacent opposite end edges of the overlapping panels, said overlapping panels being additionally secured to each other at spaced intervals transversely of the panels to form a pad receiving pocket having three closed sides and an open side therebetween, and the remainder of the sheet being folded into overlapping relation to said pocket to close the same. I I

2. A diaper comprising a rectangular sheet of absorbent fabric, at least one additional piece of fabric secured to said sheet and extending between at least two opposite edges thereof, saidlsheet and said additional fabric being divided into a plurality of panels, at least one of said panels being folded into overlapping relation to the next adjacent panel and being secured thereto at spaced intervals to form a pad receiving pocket therebetween, and the remainder of the sheet being folded into overlapping relation to said pocket to close the same.

3. A diaper comprising a rectangular sheet of absorbent fabric divided into a plurality of panels including two outer panels interconnected by an intermediate panel, said outer panels each being folded into overlapping relation to the intermediate panel and into juxtaposed spaced parallel relation to each other, means for securing each of said outer panels to said intermediate panel adjacent opposite end edges of the overlapping panels being additionally secured to each other at spaced intervals transversely of the panels to form pad receiving pockets therebetween having three closed sides and an open side, the open sides of said pockets being in close proximity to each other, and said outer panels being folded into overlapping relation to each other 'to close said pockets and to form an elongated rectangular diaper.

4. A diaper comprising a rectangular sheet of absorbent fabric, an additional rectangular piece of fabric secured to said sheet, said additional fabric being of a length substantially equal to the width of the rectangular sheet and extending between opposite side edges thereof in spaced parallel relation to opposite end edges of said rectangular sheet, said rectangular sheet and said additional piece of fabric being divided into a plurality of panels including two outer panels interconnected by an intermediate panel, each of said panels extending longitudinally of said rectangular sheet and transversely of said additional fabric, one of said outer panels being folded into overlapping relation to the intermediate panel and being secured thereto adjacent opposite end edges of the overlapping panels, said overlapping panels being additionally secured'adjacent the additional fabric to form a pocket between overlapping portions thereof having three closed sides and an open side, and the other outer panel being folded'into overlapping relation to said first-named outer panel to close the pocket and to form an elongated rectangular diaper.

5. A diaper comprising a rectangular sheet of absorbent fabric divided into a plurality of panels including two outer panels interconnected by an intermediate panel, saidouter panels each being folded into overlapping relation to the intermediate panel and into juxtaposed spaced parellel relation to each other, each of said outer panels being secured to said intermediate panel adjacent opposite endsthereof, each of said outer panels being additionally secured to said intermediate panel at spaced intervals between said opposite ends to-form a plurality of three sided pockets between said intermediate panel and each of said outer panels, each of said pockets having an open side, the open sides of the pockets formed between one outer panel and the intermediate panel being in close proximity to the open sides of the pockets formed between the other outer panel and the intermediate panel, and said intermediate panel being folded adjacent'the open sides of said pockets to bring the outer panels into overlapping relation to close said pockets and to form an elongated rectangular diaper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

